Nightmarish Festivities

Chapter 3

*i seriously need to come up with chapter titles at some point- thats a problem for later though*

Through the rest of the night Erebus continued orchestrating his maze, only ever half asleep. Still in the morning he was awake and ready for the last show of their stay. This time he would have to be performing as well, by the time this is over he will certainly be sleeping for a week. Strong as the collected negativity makes him feel the effects really only take hold once the ritual is completed as well. 

It didn't take long for the troupe to be ready to leave for the day. Famis with his large pack, and the rest in their performance outfits. Nyx was waiting for them in the main room to say goodbye. 

"As always it was a nice few days with you guys, I do hope we can talk more next time, it's always fun," he walked over to Cinis to give him a hug. Which was awkwardly returned. 

"Yeah, see you next time kid" Cinis replied, leaning against the door. 

"I'll have you know I'm far older than you" Nyx gave a lighthearted retort. "See ya later Occisor" once again, he went for a hug. The receiving skeleton chuckling at the action.

"We will see ya later Nyx"

Famis then came up, nearly crushing Nyx in a tight hug. Walking off to stand with Cinis. 

"Bye Famis, and Erebus." Said monster looked up at the mention of his name. "I guess I will see you tonight?"

"I do believe I will, yes. See you tonight Nyx" With that last goodbye, the troupe walked out the door for the ending show. 

~~~~~~~
"Well then! It seems that today is the last for your favorite troupe of nightmares." Erebus shouted to the small crowd that still remained. "It seems the audience is much smaller today, I do hope you haven't grown tired of us already. Well enough with the small talk, let the show begin!" 

Black and teal orbs were summoned all across the stage. The blasters and knives coming soon after. However this time, the summoned blasters first lit half the orbs on fire. They gave off a dark blue flame and began to move and float about with the rest of the orbs. 

A laser show of bright purple and white beams filled the cavern, red knives weaving between each ray of light. Two violins in his tendrils, Erebus started the music. Sitting down, he pulled a handpan out of a small portal. Placing it in his lap, the echoing notes provided an airy contrast to the more shrill sound of the violin. 

Cinis and Occisor danced around each other in a sort of choreographed fight between the two. The summoned weapons aiming and just missing one another. Every dodge and duck is done with fluid grace, in time with the music. The beat of the handpan mimicking every harsh move. It's a captivating sight, the small flames floating about giving a blue glow to the stage. 

~~~~~~~
In newhome, Famis was inside one of the many houses. He searched through every room, stealing anything that looked edible. Moving swiftly he tried to keep everything looking as it had before. Nothing out of the ordinary, no suspicions to be had of anything being amiss. Bit by bit, everything was gone. Nothing that could be safely eaten left.

This was the case for every house Famis could find a way into without causing a scene. Even places with monsters still inside. He was quiet and light on his feet having done this many times before. Only the sound of low singing, to tell he was inside. The faint sound of a door opening and shutting, or the light clicking of a window. Despite his more lumbering figure, Famis moved about like a ghost. Swiftly he made his way through the houses of newhome, getting closer to hotland as he traveled. 

Food stolen from these aus went to both the food storage of the troupe, but also to Famis' old au. Horrortale. Which is why he insisted on being the one to complete the task of stealing from the aus the troupe visited. Both Cinis and Occisor offered to do it instead, but he still wanted to be the one to collect food for his old home. Maybe out of a sense of obligation, or perhaps because he couldn't provide for them like this before. 

Soon Famis neared upon hotland once again, ready to spread his famine through the rest of the underground. 

~~~~~~~
Erebus routinely checked the small audience for Famis. As soon as he arrived the troupe would leave, not another moment spent on the stage. Of course, he wouldn't arrive for another while. In the meantime, Erebus' hands glided across the handpan with a fierce tempo. The violins held in his tendrils following the rhythm set by the percussion. 

Dancing just behind him was Occisor and Cinis. It seemed as if they were really trying to fight eachother by now. Still they moved with the same elegance as if their actions had been choreographed for months beforehand. Needless to say, it wasn't. The improvisation abilities of these skeletons know no bounds.

Despite what has happened in the past couple days, the troupe's small crowd was captivated by their performance. Unable to take their eyes off the odd show being put on. 

~~~~~~~
Only snowdin was left for Famis to go through. The ruins usually being left alone during these raids unless they were already open. Nobody really entered or left otherwise. 

Feet crunching on the snow layer across the ground, Famis paused for a bit. A near exact copy of what his home once looked like. Even so he continued onto the first house. A few minutes after that he went to the next. Just one house after the other, then the shops. Simple as that. Yet something stopped him from entering what would be his own house. He never could, nobody ever blamed him for it. They would likely do the same. The house was skipped, onto the next. 

With the least amount of buildings and a general want to leave, snowdin was completed the fastest. Finally  it was time to go back. Unlike his original slow walk through the underground, Famis jogged through just trying to get back to newhome. Taking every shortcut he could that didn't involve teleportation. Erebus' music sounding louder as he neared the stage. 

Tall as he was, it was easy for Erebus to spot him in the back. Suddenly Erebus' hands slammed down onto his handpan in one last resounding note. The violins came to a high pitched halt. Then they were gone, as if they were only a figment of everyone's imagination. Through a portal that had been summoned beneath them.

~~~~~~~
Occisor, Cinis, and Famis were all sent to the manor to unpack and rest in their actual rooms. Erebus however, returned to where they were staying in the underswap copy. Where Nyx still remained, waiting for him. 

Entering the house for what is likely the last time, Nyx was seen awake and reading. As soon as he noticed Erebus arrive, he closed his book making sure to mark the page he was on. He looked up at his corrupted self and gave a small smile.

"Time already?"

"It appears so, are you ready to go?"

"No time better than now, save my book for me would you? I want to finish it next time." Nyx's voice was steady, having done this time and time before.

"I will be sure to." The book was placed in his coat. "Now, let's go somewhere more suitable." Erebus took Nyx's hand and summoned yet another swirling dark portal. Both stepping inside at the same time.